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Heart Valve Repair or Replacement Surgery

(Open Heart Surgery)

Procedure overview

What is heart valve repair or replacement surgery?

Heart valve repair or replacement surgery is a treatment option for valvular heart disease. When heart valves become damaged or diseased, they may not function properly. Conditions which may cause heart valve dysfunction are valvular stenosis and valvular insufficiency (regurgitation).

When one (or more) valve(s) becomes stenotic (stiff), the heart muscle must work harder to pump the blood through the valve. Some reasons why heart valves become stenotic include infection (such as rheumatic fever or staphylococcus infections) and aging. If one or more valves become insufficient (leaky), blood leaks backwards, which means that less blood is pumped in the proper direction. Based on your symptoms and overall condition of your heart, your doctor may decide that the diseased valve(s) needs to be surgically repaired or replaced.

Traditionally, repair or replacement of heart valves has involved open-heart surgery, which means that the chest is opened in the operating room and the heart stopped for a time so that the surgeon may repair or replace the valve(s). In order to open the chest, the breastbone, or sternum, is cut in half and spread apart. Once the heart is exposed, large tubes are inserted into the heart so that the blood can be pumped through the body during the surgery by a cardiopulmonary bypass machine (heart-lung machine). The bypass machine is necessary to pump blood because the heart is stopped and kept still while the surgeon performs the valve repair or replacement procedure.

Newer, less invasive techniques have been developed to replace or repair heart valves. Minimally invasive procedures make smaller incisions–and mean less pain afterward and shorter hospital stays. Balloon valvuloplasty is one such procedure. It's used to treat some cases of valve stenosis, and is done as part of a catheterization procedure, rather than as part of open heart surgery.

Transcatheter aortic valve replacement, or TAVR, is a new alternative for some cases of aortic valve stenosis. This hybrid procedure typically is done by a cardiac surgeon and an interventional cardiologist.

The diseased valve may be repaired using a ring to support a person's own valve, or the entire valve may be removed and replaced by an artificial valve. Artificial valves may be mechanical (made of metal or plastic) or tissue (made from animal valves or human valves taken from cadavers).

Valves of the heart

Click image to enlarge

To better understand how valvular heart disease affects the heart, a review of basic heart anatomy and valve function follows.

The heart is a pump made of muscle tissue. The heart has four pumping chambers: two upper chambers, called atria, and two lower chambers, called ventricles. The right atrium pumps blood into the right ventricle, which then pumps the blood into the lungs where wastes such as carbon dioxide are given off and oxygen and other nutrients are taken into the blood.

From the lungs, the blood flows back into the left atrium, is pumped into the left ventricle, and then is pumped through the aorta out to the rest of the body and the coronary arteries. When the atria are contracting, the ventricles are relaxed in order to receive the blood from the atria. Once the blood from the atria has passed into the ventricles, the atria relax while the ventricles pump the blood out to the lungs and to the rest of the body.

In order to keep the blood flowing forward during its journey through the heart, there are valves between each of the heart's pumping chambers:

Tricuspid valve. Located between the right atrium and the right ventricle

Pulmonary (or pulmonic) valve. Located between the right ventricle and the pulmonary artery

Mitral valve. Located between the left atrium and the left ventricle

Aortic valve. Located between the left ventricle and the aorta

If the heart valve(s) becomes damaged or diseased, a person may experience the following symptoms:

Dizziness

Chest pain

Breathing difficulties

Palpitations

Edema (swelling) of the feet, ankles, or abdomen

Rapid weight gain due to fluid retention

Reasons for the procedure

Valve repair or replacement surgery is performed to correct the problems caused by one or more diseased heart valves.

There may be other reasons for your doctor to recommend heart valve repair or replacement surgery.

Risks of the procedure

Possible risks associated with heart valve repair or replacement surgery include, but are not limited to, the following:

Bleeding during or after the surgery

Blood clots that can cause heart attack, stroke, or lung problems

Infection at the incision site

Pneumonia

Breathing problems

Dysrhythmias/arrhythmias (abnormal heart rhythms)

If you are pregnant or suspect that you may be pregnant, you should notify your health care provider. If you are lactating, or breastfeeding, you should notify your health care provider.

Patients who are allergic to or sensitive to medications, contrast dyes, iodine, or latex should notify their doctor.

There may be other risks depending on your specific medical condition. Be sure to discuss any concerns with your doctor prior to the procedure.

Before the procedure:

Your doctor will explain the procedure to you and offer you the opportunity to ask any questions that you might have about the procedure.

You will be asked to sign a consent form that gives your permission to do the test. Read the form carefully and ask questions if something is not clear.

In addition to a complete medical history, your doctor may perform a complete physical examination to ensure you are in good health before undergoing the procedure. You may undergo blood tests or other diagnostic tests.

You will be asked to fast for eight hours before the procedure, generally after midnight.

If you are pregnant or suspect that you are pregnant, you should notify your doctor.

Notify your doctor if you are sensitive to or are allergic to any medications, iodine, latex, tape, or anesthetic agents (local and general).

Notify your doctor of all medications (prescription and over-the-counter) and herbal supplements that you are taking.

Notify your doctor if you have a history of bleeding disorders or if you are taking any anticoagulant (blood-thinning) medications, aspirin, or other medications that affect blood clotting. It may be necessary for you to stop some of these medications prior to the procedure.

Your doctor may request a blood test prior to the procedure to determine how long it takes your blood to clot.

Notify your doctor if you have a pacemaker.

If you smoke, you should stop smoking as soon as possible prior to the procedure. This may improve your chances for a successful recovery from surgery and benefit your overall health status.

Based on your medical condition, your doctor may request other specific preparation.

During the procedure

Heart valve repair or replacement surgery requires a stay in a hospital. Procedure may vary depending on your condition and your doctor’s practices.

Generally, heart valve repair or replacement follows this process:

You will be asked to remove any jewelry or other objects that may interfere with the procedure.

You will be asked to remove your clothing and will be given a gown to wear.

You will be asked to empty your bladder prior to the procedure.

An intravenous (IV) line will be started in your arm or hand. Additional catheters will be inserted in your neck and wrist to monitor the status of your heart and blood pressure, as well as for obtaining blood samples. Alternate sites for the additional catheters include the subclavian (under the collarbone) area and the groin.

You will be positioned on the operating table, lying on your back.

The anesthesiologist will continuously monitor your heart rate, blood pressure, breathing, and blood oxygen level during the surgery. Once you are sedated, a breathing tube will be inserted through your throat into your lungs and you will be connected to a ventilator, which will breathe for you during the surgery.

A catheter will be inserted into your bladder to drain urine.

The skin over the surgical site will be cleansed with an antiseptic solution.

The doctor will make an incision (cut) down the center of the chest from just below the Adam's apple to just above the navel.

The sternum (breastbone) will be divided in half with a special operating instrument. The doctor will separates the two halves of the breastbone and spread them apart to expose the heart.

In order to perform the valve repair or replacement, the heart must be stopped to allow the doctor to perform the very delicate procedure. Tubes will be inserted into the heart so that the blood can be pumped through your body by a cardiopulmonary bypass machine.

Once the blood has been completely diverted into the bypass machine for pumping, the heart will be stopped by injecting it with a cold solution.

When the heart has stopped, the doctor will perform the procedure by removing the diseased valve and putting in the artificial valve, in the case of a valve replacement. For a valve repair, the procedure performed will depend on the type of valve problem that exists, for example, separation of fused valve leaflets, repair of torn leaflets, and/or the reshaping of valve parts to ensure better function.

Once the procedure has been completed, the blood circulating through the bypass machine will be allowed to reenter your heart and the tubes to the machine removed. Your heart will be shocked with small paddles to restart its electrical activity.

Once your heart is beating again, the doctor will observe the heart to assess the function of the heart and the valves.

Temporary wires for pacing may be inserted into the heart. These wires can be attached to a pacemaker and your heart can be paced, if needed, during the initial recovery period.

The sternum will be rejoined and sewn together with small wires.

The skin over the sternum will be sewn back together. The incision will be closed with sutures or surgical staples.

Tubes will be inserted into your chest to drain blood and other fluids from around the heart. These tubes will be connected to a suction device to drain fluids away from the heart.

A tube will be inserted through your mouth or nose into your stomach to drain stomach fluids.

A sterile bandage or dressing will be applied.

After the procedure

In the hospital

After the surgery you may be taken to the recovery room before being taken to the intensive care unit (ICU) to be closely monitored for several days. Alternatively, you may be taken directly to the ICU from the operating room. You will be connected to monitors that will constantly display your electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG) tracing, blood pressure, other pressure readings, breathing rate, and your oxygen level. Heart valve repair or replacement surgery generally requires an in-hospital stay of several days or longer.

You will most likely have a tube in your throat so that your breathing can be assisted with a ventilator (breathing machine) until you are stable enough to breathe on your own. As you wake up from the anesthesia more and start to breathe by yourself, the breathing machine will be adjusted to allow you to take over more of the breathing. When you are awake enough to breathe completely by yourself and to be able to cough, the breathing tube will be removed. The stomach tube will also likely be removed at this time.

After the breathing tube is out, your nurse will assist you to cough and take deep breaths every two hours. This will be uncomfortable due to soreness, but it is extremely important that you do this in order to keep mucus from collecting in your lungs and possibly causing pneumonia.

You will be given pain medication if you are hurting, and you should ask for the medication before you become extremely uncomfortable. Your nurse will show you how to hug a pillow tightly against your chest while coughing to help ease the discomfort.

You may be on special IV drips to help your blood pressure and your heart and to control any problems with bleeding. As your condition stabilizes, these drips will be gradually decreased and turned off as your condition allows.

Once the breathing and stomach tubes have been removed and your condition has stabilized, you may start liquids to drink. Your diet may be gradually advanced to more solid foods as you tolerate them.

When your doctor determines that you are ready, you will be moved from the ICU to a postsurgical unit or acute care unit. Your recovery will continue to progress. Your activity will be gradually increased as you get out of bed and walk around for longer periods of time. Your diet will be advanced to solid foods as you tolerate them.

Arrangements will be made for a follow-up visit with your doctor.

At home

Once you are home, it will be important to keep the surgical area clean and dry. Your doctor will give you specific bathing instructions. The sutures or surgical staples will be removed during a follow-up office visit, if they were not removed before leaving the hospital.

You should not drive until your doctor tells you to. Other activity restrictions may apply.

Notify your physician to report any of the following:

Fever and/or chills

Redness, swelling, or bleeding or other drainage from the incision site

Increase in pain around the incision site

Your doctor may give you additional or alternate instructions after the procedure, depending on your particular situation.

Online resources

The content provided here is for informational purposes only, and was not designed to diagnose or treat a health problem or disease, or replace the professional medical advice you receive from your doctor. Please consult your health care provider with any questions or concerns you may have regarding your condition.

This page contains links to other websites with information about this procedure and related health conditions. We hope you find these sites helpful, but please remember we do not control or endorse the information presented on these websites, nor do these sites endorse the information contained here.